The Kingdom of Tonga is an independent archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean. It lies about a third of the way between ► New Zealand and ► Hawaii, south of ► Samoa and ► American Samoa, west to ► Niue, east of ► Fiji and north of ► New Zealand. The islands are also known as the Friendly Islands, the name given by Captain Cook because of the friendly reception he received. He happened to arrive at the time of ʻinasi festival, the yearly donation of the first fruits to the Tuʻi Tonga and was invited to the festivities.

Notes and references

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